Superfoods 101 – For Beautiful Skin

At this point, you could probably rattle off the health benefits of kale in your sleep, and you’ve got an abundance of superfood-laden recipes saved on Pinterest. But these nutritional superstars are now stretching beyond the kitchen and into your anti-aging skincare products. The vitamins and minerals found in superfoods like Raw Cacao, Sea Kelp, and the newest Paleo superstar, Grass-fed Tallow, are capable of beautiful things, from supporting collagen to hydrating dry skin and refining pores. Adding a healthy dose of these farm-to-face ingredients into your daily routine is sure to improve your complexion and promote positively radiant, glowing, healthy skin.

Profile: Grass-fed, Paleo Approved.
Origin: Our pure tallow comes from Saskatchewan, where the ranchers are passionate about sustainable, transparent, ethical and holistic farming practices. Their belief is that through grass-fed grazing and using preventative practices and natural health care, they can raise animals without the crutches of modern pharmaceuticals. Cool Springs Ranch strives for absolute honesty and integrity in all of their relationships, with one of their biggest inspirations being the Weston A. Price Foundation.
Find it: Grapefruit & Lavender Luxury Cleaser, Frankincense Beauty Balm, Neroli & Carrot Seed Bedtime Beauty Cream

While many people in tropical climates traditionally used highly nutritious coconut oil to nourish and protect their skin, people from parts of the world where coconuts don’t grow on trees often used Tallow. Our Tallow is gently derived by slowly heating the fatty tissue of grass-fed cows raised with respect. Cool Springs Ranch uses holistic, ethical and sustainable farming practices to be sure. This results in clean, pure, high-vitamin oil with a fatty acid profile similar to that of human cell membranes.

In the sacred and sustainable tradition of appreciating all of our resources, we view Tallow as a beautiful, golden oil that has many skin soothing and regenerating properties. The next big wave in skincare comes straight from the past.

Grass-fed Tallow is ultra rich in the same kinds of lipids that are found naturally in youthful, healthy looking skin. Grass-fed tallow also contains fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E & K and Vitamin B12. It is intrinsically balanced by nature, with no further improvement or enrichment needed. These properties, including Triglycerides, which allow for the easy absorption of nutrients, as well as antioxidants, provide the key elements we need to maintain healthy, sturdy, cell integrity and tone. Other beneficial essential fatty acids in Grass-fed Tallow include:

Stearic Acid & Oleic Acid (Omega 9)
These are both found in the protective outer layer of the skin and in sebum. These fatty acids have moisturizing, softening, regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. Stearic Acid also improves the skin’s suppleness and flexibility, helping to repair damage. Oleic Acid helps the other active components penetrate deeply into the skin.

Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLA)
CLA has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which is healing for many skin conditions.

Palmitoleic Acid (Omega 7)
This is the most active anti-microbial found in human sebum. Palmitoleic Acid is also a basic building block of our skin, but its production declines with age.

Palmitic Acid
This helps smooth the appearance of skin and helps to improve barrier protection. The production of Palmitic Acid in our skin also declines with age.

Alpha-Linolenic (Omega 3) and Linoleic acids (Omega 6)
Optimally balanced in a ratio of almost 1:1. These essential fatty acids have a role in maintaining the structural integrity and barrier function of skin, they also influence inflammatory and immune responses in the skin.

Vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12
All of which are particularly nurturing for the skin, and are only naturally found together in animal products.

Profile: *Certified Organic, Raw and Unfiltered (*when available)
Origin: We buy raw honey from several suppliers in Alberta and Saskatchewan. While we prefer to buy Certified Organic raw honey, often this is not possible as it becomes more and more difficult and costly for local beekeepers to obtain this certification. Rather than import honey based on its organic merit, we choose to support local businesses using sustainable practices. For that reason, the raw honey in our products may not always be Certified Organic.
Find it: Green Tea & Grape Seed Honey Scrub

Raw honey is the most original sweet liquid that honeybees produce from the concentrated nectar of flowers. Collected straight from the extractor, it is totally unheated, unpasteurized and unprocessed. This preserves the beneficial enzymes and nutrients of the honey.

The medicinal and cosmetic use of honeybee products has been practiced since ancient times. The Legendary Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was known for her exquisite complexion. One of her secrets was adding raw honey to her milk baths, and directly to her skin as a cleanser and moisturizer.

Raw honey has an abundance of health properties. It is composed of natural Alpha-hydroxy Acids, such as Gluconic acid, that gently exfoliate dead cells. These acids also increase elasticity, balance out oily skin, stimulate collagen production, and minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Raw honey is made up of both anti-aging vitamins and minerals that help nourish and heal the skin, brighten the complexion, even out skin tone, and lighten scars and age spots.

Since raw honey also contains phytochemicals that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus, it has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It does wonders for a wide variety of skin ailments, including Acne and enlarged pores, Rosacea, Eczema and Hyperpigmentation.

Perhaps most impressive of all, raw honey promotes the growth of healthy, new tissue. Before pasteurization, raw honey contains bee pollen (propolis) and other components that stimulate the growth of cells.

Depending on where the raw honey is collected from, it will contain many nutrients and minerals excellent for skin health such as Vitamin B, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Potassium and Calcium. It also acts as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin, and is perfect as a gentle cleanser for even very sensitive skin. When raw honey is mixed with water, it produces hydrogen peroxide. This is due to one of the natural enzymes it contains. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic that can be used to help Acne and impede bacterial growth. Honey is excellent for use in an anti-aging acne skincare routine.

Profile: Raw, Certified Organic, Heirloom Species: Arriba Nacional-Fino de Aroma. Although our cacao is not 3rd Party Fairtrade Certified, it is grown and harvested based on a model of Fairtrade, ethical, and ecological sustainability that is both socially and environmentally responsible. There is a close relationship and development program in place with the organic smallholder indigenous farmers in order to promote the welfare of these farming families and farming communities through many different initiatives. Theoretical and practical training in crop management and in sustainable practices, assistance with proper certification, financial resources for the acquisition of machinery, tools and production supplies, investment in community projects and development and various incentive programs are all in place.
Origin: Ecuador

Our Cacao is the Ecuadorian heirloom species, which is considered worldwide to have the highest amount of bio-available nutrients and minerals, as well as the finest aroma.

Raw Cacao is the most antioxidant-rich food in the world. This superfood is extremely high in B Vitamins, Flavanols and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, which help activate circulation and protect collagen. Glowing skin is a wonderful side effect of the high natural Vitamin C content, which promotes cellular healing. Cacao is ultra rich in vital skin-friendly anti-aging minerals like magnesium, copper and sulfur (the beauty mineral). These minerals boost the bodies ability to renew and repair skin at the cellular level.

Using sea plants therapeutically dates back to the time of the ancient Greeks. Sea Kelp is a type of seaweed or marine algae that is available in powder form and is loaded with skin-nourishing nutrients, such as Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids Polyphenols, Vitamin B12 (not found in land plants), Vitamin E and anti-aging minerals. When applied to the skin, Sea Kelp acts as a powerful detoxifier that draws out toxins and impurities while adding beneficial nutrients. It helps to stimulate circulation which gives skin a healthy, revitalized and glowing appearance. Sea Kelp is also know to effectively combat skin irritation and inflammation, and may assist with Acne, Psoriasis and Eczema.

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Our products embody our philosophy of wellbeing and reverence for life. As a result, we have consciously created a waterless skin care line that enhances both physical and spiritual wellbeing. When you apply our products with your whole heart and mind, your body responds in very positive ways.